Increased Abdominal Perimeter Differently Affects Respiratory Function in Men and Women.

Obesity is a worldwide epidemic being the main cause of cardiovascular, metabolic disturbances and chronic pulmonary diseases. The increase in body weight may affect the respiratory system due to fat deposition and systemic inflammation. Herein, we evaluated the sex differences in the impact of obesity and high abdominal circumference on basal ventilation.

Index of microcirculatory resistance in the assessment of coronary microvascular dysfunction in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Introduction And Objectives: Coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) is one of the most important pathophysiological features in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). The index of microcirculatory resistance (IMR) is an invasive method to assess the coronary microcirculation. The aim was to assess CMD in patients with HCM by IMR.

Associations between perfusion defects, tissue changes and myocardial deformation in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, uncovered by a cardiac magnetic resonance segmental analysis.

Background: Microvascular dysfunction is an often overlooked feature of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Our aim was to assess the association between microvascular dysfunction, wall thickness, tissue characteristics and myocardial deformation in HCM patients, by analyzing individual myocardial segments.

Methods: Prospective assessment including cardiac magnetic resonance to assess wall thickness, T1 and T2 mapping, extracellular volume, late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) and stress perfusion.

Blunted coronary flow velocity reserve is associated with impairment in systolic function and functional capacity in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Background: Coronary microvascular dysfunction constitutes an important pathophysiological feature in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). We aimed to assess the association between impaired coronary flow velocity reserve (CFVR) and ventricular systolic function and functional capacity.

Methods: Eighty-three patients with HCM were enrolled in this prospective cohort study.

The Impact of Ischemia Assessed by Magnetic Resonance on Functional, Arrhythmic, and Imaging Features of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

The aim of the study is to investigate the association between the degree of ischemia due to coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) and the left ventricular (LV) tissue characteristics, systolic performance, and clinical manifestations in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). This prospective study enrolled 75 patients with HCM without obstructive epicardial coronary artery disease. Each patient underwent cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) including parametric mapping, perfusion imaging during regadenoson-induced hyperemia, late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) and three-dimensional longitudinal, circumferential, and radial strains analysis.

Association between miR-146a and Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha (TNF-α) in Stable Coronary Artery Disease.

: Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) is proatherogenic and associated with the risk of acute ischemic events, although the mechanisms that regulate TNF-α expression in stable coronary artery disease (SCAD) are not fully understood. We investigated whether metabolic, inflammatory, and epigenetic (microRNA (miRNA)) markers are associated with TNF-α expression in SCAD. : Patients with SCAD were prospectively recruited and their metabolic and inflammatory profiles were assessed.

Cigarette Smoking, miR-27b Downregulation, and Peripheral Artery Disease: Insights into the Mechanisms of Smoking Toxicity.

Cigarette smoking is a risk factor for the development of peripheral artery disease (PAD), although the proatherosclerotic mediators of cigarette smoking are not entirely known. We explored whether circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) are dysregulated in cigarette smokers and associated with the presence of PAD. Ninety-four participants were recruited, including 58 individuals without and 36 with PAD, 51 never smokers, 28 prior smokers, and 15 active smokers.

Circulating miRNAs Are Associated with the Systemic Extent of Atherosclerosis: Novel Observations for miR-27b and miR-146.

The mechanisms that regulate the systemic extent of atherosclerosis are not fully understood. We investigated whether the expression of circulating miRNAs is associated with the extent of stable atherosclerosis to a single territory or multiple territories (polyvascular) and with the severity of atherosclerosis in each territory. Ninety-four participants were prospectively recruited and divided into five age- and sex-matched groups: presenting no atherosclerosis, isolated coronary atherosclerosis, coronary and lower extremity atherosclerosis, coronary and carotid atherosclerosis, and atherosclerosis of the coronary, lower extremity, and carotid territories.

Myocardial work is associated with significant left ventricular myocardial fibrosis in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Late gadolinium enhancement on cardiac magnetic resonance adds prognostic information in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Whether Myocardial work, a new parameter on transthoracic echocardiographic, can be associated with significant fibrosis in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients is unknown. In a single-centre prospective evaluation of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients in whom transthoracic echocardiographic and cardiac magnetic resonance were performed, Myocardial work and related indices were calculated from global longitudinal strain and from estimated left ventricular pressure curves.

Soluble CD40 ligand expression in stable atherosclerosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background And Aims: The role of inflammation in atherosclerosis development and expression in different arterial territories is unclear. Soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) mediates inflammation and atherogenesis. Through a systematic review and meta-analysis, we assessed whether sCD40L was dysregulated in stable atherosclerosis, irrespective of the diseased arterial territory, and whether this dysregulation differed according to the specific territory.

The Proinflammatory Soluble CD40 Ligand Is Associated with the Systemic Extent of Stable Atherosclerosis.

: Polyvascular atherosclerosis is frequent and associated with a high cardiovascular risk, although the mechanisms regulating the atherosclerosis extent to single or multiple arterial territories are still poorly understood. Inflammation regulates atherogenesis and soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) is an inflammatory mediator associated with the presence of single-territorial atherosclerosis. We assessed whether the sCD40L expression is associated with the atherosclerosis extent to single or multiple arterial territories and with the atherosclerosis severity in different territories.

Inflammation is associated with the presence and severity of chronic coronary syndrome through soluble CD40 ligand.

Introduction: Inflammation contributes to the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis, although the underlying inflammatory pathways are not entirely known. Specifically, the role of the proinflammatory soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) on the expression of chronic coronary syndrome (CCS) is not completely understood. We evaluated whether sCD40L expression is associated with the presence of CCS and with the clinical and anatomical severity of CCS.

Coronary microvascular dysfunction in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: Pathophysiology, assessment, and clinical impact.

Myocardial ischemia constitutes one of the most important pathophysiological features in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Chronic and recurrent myocardial ischemia leads to fibrosis, which may culminate in myocardial dysfunction. Since the direct visualization of coronary microcirculation in vivo is not possible, its function must be studied indirectly.

Carotid body chemosensitivity: early biomarker of dysmetabolism in humans.

Objective: The carotid bodies (CBs) are peripheral chemoreceptor organs classically described as being O2 sensors, which are increasingly emerging as core players in metabolic control. Herein we evaluated CB activity in prediabetes patients and determined its correlation with dysmetabolism clinical features.

Design And Methods: Prediabetes patients were recruited at the Cardiology Service, Hospital Santa Marta, Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Central, EPE (CHLC-EPE).

Is metabolic syndrome a prognostic marker in patients at high cardiovascular risk? A long-term cohort study.

Introduction: Obese patients are at higher cardiovascular risk in primary prevention. In secondary prevention, an obesity paradox has been reported. We analyzed a cohort of individuals from a previous cross-sectional study on the impact of metabolic syndrome (MS) on coronary artery disease (CAD), aiming to assess the occurrence of cardiovascular events in a long follow-up.

High-intensity interval training in cardiac resynchronization therapy: a randomized control trial.

Aims: To determine the effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) following cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) implantation in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF), on noninvasive estimates of systolic ventricular function, exercise performance, severity of symptoms and quality of life.

Methods: Cardiopulmonary exercise testing, resting transthoracic echocardiogram and health-related quality of life assessment were obtained before and at 6 months after CRT implantation in 37 patients with moderate-to-severe CHF. Patients were randomized after CRT to either a 24-week HIIT group (90-95% peak heart rate, 2 days per week) or to a usual care group (CON).

Has carotid intima-media thickness prognostic impact in patients with high cardiovascular risk? A long-term cohort study.

Background: Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) is an established surrogate marker for cardiovascular events in patients with intermediate risk. In patients with high cardiovascular risk or established cardiovascular disease, the impact of CMIT measurement on risk stratification for future events is less clear. Our objective was to evaluate the impact of CIMT on the occurrence of cardiovascular events in a cohort of individuals with high cardiovascular risk, in long-term follow-up.

Prognostic effect and modulation of cardiac sympathetic function in heart failure patients treated with cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Background: Cardiac autonomic dysfunction as assessed by I-metaiodobenzylguanidine (I-mIBG) scintigraphy is associated with poor prognosis in heart failure (HF) patients. Although cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) has emerged as an effective therapy in improving outcomes on HF patients, its effect on cardiac sympathetic nervous function is still not fully understood. We aimed to study the value of pre-implantation I-mIBG late heart-to-mediastinum ratio (HMR) as a predictor of response and outcomes after CRT and to correlate modification in this parameter with CRT response and functional improvement.

Circulating microRNA profiles in different arterial territories of stable atherosclerotic disease: a systematic review.

Aims: Atherosclerosis is associated with altered circulating microRNA profiles. It is yet unclear whether the expression of these potential biomarkers differs according to the location of atherosclerosis. We assessed whether atherosclerosis of different arterial territories, except the coronary, is associated with specific circulating microRNA profiles.

Impact of cardiac resynchronization therapy on inflammatory biomarkers and cardiac remodeling: The paradox of functional and echocardiographic response.

Introduction: Response to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) can currently be assessed by clinical or echocardiographic criteria, and there is no strong evidence supporting the use of one rather than the other. Reductions in B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and C-reactive protein (CRP) have been shown to be associated with CRT response. This study aims to assess variation in BNP and CRP six months after CRT and to correlate this variation with criteria of functional and echocardiographic response.

Does permanent atrial fibrillation modify response to cardiac resynchronization therapy in heart failure patients?

Introduction: The benefits of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) documented in heart failure (HF) may be influenced by atrial fibrillation (AF). We aimed to compare CRT response in patients in AF and in sinus rhythm (SR).

Methods: We prospectively studied 101 HF patients treated by CRT.

Predictors of response to cardiac resynchronization therapy: A prospective cohort study.

Introduction: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) has modified the prognosis of chronic heart failure (HF) with left ventricular systolic dysfunction. However, 30% of patients do not have a favorable response. The big question is how to determine predictors of response.

Global and regional patterns of longitudinal strain in screening for chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity.

Introduction: Serial echocardiographic assessment of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is the gold standard in screening for chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity (CIC). Measurement of myocardial deformation using speckle tracking enables more detailed assessment of myocardial contractility. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between global and regional longitudinal strain and CIC.

Twelve Years of Kawasaki Disease in Portugal: Epidemiology in Hospitalized Children.

Background: Kawasaki disease (KD) is the leading cause of acquired heart disease in developed countries. Reported incidences vary worldwide but incidence of KD has not been established in Portugal.

Aim: The aims of the study were to describe the epidemiologic characteristics and estimate incidence rates of KD among hospitalized children in Portugal.